Astros let one slip away in 3-2 loss to Giants

Tipping point: Three hits in a four-batter span swung this one from a one-run win to a one-run loss. Brandon Belt singled off Wesley Wright, Joaquin Arias doubled off Wilton Lopez down the left field line and Hector Sanchez handed Lopez the loss with an RBI single.

On the mound: Just when things appeared to be going so well for Bud Norris (6 2/3 innings, one run), his rough season hit another rough spot. Norris left with a blister problem in the seventh inning.

At the plate: The Astros were held hitless by Matt Cain through 3 1/3 innings, but there would be nothing close to a repeat perfection as Fernando Martinez homered, and Brett Wallace had three hits.

Under the radar: Tony DeFrancesco stayed away from typical closer use, giving Wright the Belt at-bat to begin the ninth. Generally a good percentage play, though Belt has hit lefties well in his short career.

• • •

Sometimes, despite the cliché, you can predict baseball.

The Astros weren’t going to win this game. There was just no way, not even with a lead in the ninth inning. Too much had gone wrong. They had done too many things they would later regret to cost themselves scoring chances.

In a game started by a first-class pitcher for a first-place team, the unpredictable hours led to a predictable result as the San Francisco Giants beat the Astros 3-2 on Tuesday night at Minute Maid Park.

In taking a 2-1 lead into the top of the ninth, the Astros had come so close despite a list of mistakes and missed chances against Matt Cain, who was imperfect but still good.

But when Brandon Belt singled off Wesley Wright and pinch hitters Joaquin Arias and Hector Sanchez got RBI knocks off Wilton Lopez, it illuminated all the wrong things even beyond the bullpen.

Runners left stranded“Those are games you want to win,” Astros manager Tony DeFrancesco said. “When a team’s been struggling like us … Three games in New York were very close; this game was close — another one-run game …

“It’s kind of frustrating for the manager and coaching staff that we’re not getting a ‘W’ after a game like that.”

The game was there to be taken so many times. After being no-hit through 31⁄3, the Astros started missing opportunities.

Fifth inning: Marwin Gonzalez advanced to third on a single and wild pickoff throw with nobody out, but he would stay put with groundouts by Brandon Barnes, Bud Norris and Jose Altuve.

Sixth inning: One-out singles by Wallace and Castro had the Astros set up before Greene and Fernando Martinez, who had homered in the fifth, struck out.

Three innings, each with their own signature type of out to add some variety to the misery as the Astros have now scored seven runs in their last four games.

Solid start for Norris
The worst might have come after Norris finished a nice 62⁄3-inning, one-run outing when a finger blister bit him.

It was in the eighth after Jimmy Paredes scored the go-ahead run on a wild pitch to Greene that doubled as ball four and tripled as the farewell to Cain. Greene, who was fooled by the “fake-to-third, look-at-first move,” was caught off first base and couldn’t remain in a rundown long enough to get another run home.

It was the kind of play that tends to befall the Astros on nights when the combination of their pitching and their hitting are good enough to win. That has become the Astros’ “any given Sunday.”

On any given date on the schedule, the Astros can compete with the best teams in baseball. Winning is a different story.

Despite DeFrancesco’s desire to change the culture, there has been no great change under new on-field leadership in how the Astros are faring in tight games. The culture and expectations may change eventually, though the problem is 90-something percent talent.

But for now, it’s predictable.

zachary.levine@chron.com
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Photo: Billy Smith II / Houston Chronicle

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Aug. 30: Giants 8, Astros 4

A group of San Francisco Giants fans cheer on their team as the home team Houston Astros hit lowest attendance in 12 year-history of Minute Maid Park at 12,835.

Aug. 30: Giants 8, Astros 4

A group of San Francisco Giants fans cheer on their team as the home team Houston Astros hit lowest attendance in 12 year-history of Minute Maid Park at 12,835.

Photo: Billy Smith II / Houston Chronicle

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Astros catcher Jason Castro tags out the Giants' Buster Posey at home in the second inning.

Astros catcher Jason Castro tags out the Giants' Buster Posey at home in the second inning.

Photo: Billy Smith II / Houston Chronicle

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Houston Astros starting pitcher Jordan Lyles throws in the first inning against the San Francisco Giants.

Houston Astros starting pitcher Jordan Lyles throws in the first inning against the San Francisco Giants.

Photo: Houston Chronicle

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Former Houston Astros right fielder, now San Francisco Giant, Hunter Pence greets Houston Astros right fielder Jimmy Paredes before the game.

Former Houston Astros right fielder, now San Francisco Giant, Hunter Pence greets Houston Astros right fielder Jimmy Paredes before the game.

Photo: Billy Smith II / Houston Chronicle

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Astros second basemen Jose Altuve makes a play to throws out a runner at first in the third inning.

Astros second basemen Jose Altuve makes a play to throws out a runner at first in the third inning.

Photo: Billy Smith II / Houston Chronicle

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Former Houston Astros right fielder, now San Francisco Giant, Hunter Pence greets fans before the start of the Houston Astros match up with the San Francisco Giants.

Former Houston Astros right fielder, now San Francisco Giant, Hunter Pence greets fans before the start of the Houston Astros match up with the San Francisco Giants.

Photo: Billy Smith II / Houston Chronicle

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Astros first basemen Brett Wallace (29) celebrates a home run by Houston Astros shortstop Tyler Greene (23) in the bottom of the third inning.

Astros first basemen Brett Wallace (29) celebrates a home run by Houston Astros shortstop Tyler Greene (23) in the bottom of the third inning.

Photo: Billy Smith II / Houston Chronicle

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San Francisco Giants right fielder Hunter Pence hits an RBI single in the seventh inning.

San Francisco Giants right fielder Hunter Pence hits an RBI single in the seventh inning.

Astros right fielder Jimmy Paredes scores on a wild pitch as Giants starting pitcher Matt Cain dives for the throw to break open a 1-1 tie during the eighth inning.

Aug. 28: Giants 3, Astros 2

Astros right fielder Jimmy Paredes scores on a wild pitch as Giants starting pitcher Matt Cain dives for the throw to break open a 1-1 tie during the eighth inning.

Photo: Smiley N. Pool / Houston Chronicle

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Astros second baseman Jose Altuve reacts after popping out to end the game.

Astros second baseman Jose Altuve reacts after popping out to end the game.

Photo: Smiley N. Pool / Houston Chronicle

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Giants third baseman Pablo Sandoval misplays a foul ball off the bat of Astros catcher Jason Castro during the first inning. Sandoval knocked the ball high in the air and Giants shortstop Brandon Crawford raced in to scoop the ball off the turf for the third out. less

Giants third baseman Pablo Sandoval misplays a foul ball off the bat of Astros catcher Jason Castro during the first inning. Sandoval knocked the ball high in the air and Giants shortstop Brandon Crawford ... more

Giants shortstop Brandon Crawford dives to catch a misplayed a foul ball off the bat of Astros catcher Jason Castro during the first inning.

Giants shortstop Brandon Crawford dives to catch a misplayed a foul ball off the bat of Astros catcher Jason Castro during the first inning.

Photo: Smiley N. Pool / Houston Chronicle

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Giants center fielder Angel Pagan tries to play a ball off the wall on a double by Astros first baseman Brett Wallace fourth inning.

Giants center fielder Angel Pagan tries to play a ball off the wall on a double by Astros first baseman Brett Wallace fourth inning.

Photo: Smiley N. Pool / Houston Chronicle

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Astros right fielder Jimmy Paredes takes off with a steal of second base during the first inning. Paredes, who started at third base for the Astros for two months in 2011, was called up from Class AAA Oklahoma City where he has transitioned to the outfield. less

Astros right fielder Jimmy Paredes takes off with a steal of second base during the first inning. Paredes, who started at third base for the Astros for two months in 2011, was called up from Class AAA ... more

Photo: Smiley N. Pool / Houston Chronicle

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Giants center fielder Angel Pagan celebrates after hitting a home run off of Astros starting pitcher Bud Norris during the fifth inning.

Giants center fielder Angel Pagan celebrates after hitting a home run off of Astros starting pitcher Bud Norris during the fifth inning.

Photo: Smiley N. Pool / Houston Chronicle

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Giants first baseman Brandon Belt scores past Astros catcher Jason Castro to tie the game at 2-2 during the ninth inning.

Giants first baseman Brandon Belt scores past Astros catcher Jason Castro to tie the game at 2-2 during the ninth inning.

Photo: Smiley N. Pool / Houston Chronicle

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Astros starting pitcher Bud Norris pitches to Giants third baseman Pablo Sandoval during the first inning.

Astros starting pitcher Bud Norris pitches to Giants third baseman Pablo Sandoval during the first inning.

Photo: Smiley N. Pool / Houston Chronicle

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Astros shortstop Jimmy Paredes scores on a wild pitch as Giants starting pitcher Matt Cain reaches for the throw during the eighth inning.

Astros shortstop Jimmy Paredes scores on a wild pitch as Giants starting pitcher Matt Cain reaches for the throw during the eighth inning.

Photo: Smiley N. Pool / Houston Chronicle

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Astros relief pitcher Wilton Lopez reacts as he is pulled from the game after two runs scored during the ninth inning.

Astros relief pitcher Wilton Lopez reacts as he is pulled from the game after two runs scored during the ninth inning.

Photo: Smiley N. Pool / Houston Chronicle

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Astros manager Tony DeFrancesco waits for a verdict from the umpires after contesting a triple by Giants center fielder Angel Pagan. The play was ruled a ground rule double.

Astros manager Tony DeFrancesco waits for a verdict from the umpires after contesting a triple by Giants center fielder Angel Pagan. The play was ruled a ground rule double.

Photo: Smiley N. Pool / Houston Chronicle

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Giants starting pitcher Matt Cain reacts as Astros outfielder Fernando Martinez rounds the bases after hitting a home run during the fifth inning.

Giants starting pitcher Matt Cain reacts as Astros outfielder Fernando Martinez rounds the bases after hitting a home run during the fifth inning.

Photo: Smiley N. Pool / Houston Chronicle

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Astros outfielder Fernando Martinez celebrates with teammates after hitting a home run off of Giants starting pitcher Matt Cain during the fifth inning.

Astros outfielder Fernando Martinez celebrates with teammates after hitting a home run off of Giants starting pitcher Matt Cain during the fifth inning.

Photo: Smiley N. Pool / Houston Chronicle

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Astros starting pitcher Bud Norris wipes his face after leaving the game in the seventh inning.

Astros starting pitcher Bud Norris wipes his face after leaving the game in the seventh inning.

Photo: Smiley N. Pool / Houston Chronicle

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Astros relief pitcher Wilton Lopez looks away after Giants first baseman Brandon Belt (9) scored to tie the game during the ninth inning.

Astros relief pitcher Wilton Lopez looks away after Giants first baseman Brandon Belt (9) scored to tie the game during the ninth inning.

Photo: Smiley N. Pool / Houston Chronicle

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Astros third baseman Marwin Gonzalez catches a foul ball off the bat of Giants center fielder Angel Pagan during the ninth inning.

Astros third baseman Marwin Gonzalez catches a foul ball off the bat of Giants center fielder Angel Pagan during the ninth inning.

Photo: Smiley N. Pool / Houston Chronicle

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Astros right fielder Jimmy Paredes stands for the national anthem before facing the San Francisco Giants.

Astros right fielder Jimmy Paredes stands for the national anthem before facing the San Francisco Giants.

Photo: Smiley N. Pool / Houston Chronicle

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Astros right fielder Jimmy Paredes gets a pat on the head from starting pitcher Bud Norris before facing the San Francisco Giants.

Astros right fielder Jimmy Paredes gets a pat on the head from starting pitcher Bud Norris before facing the San Francisco Giants.

Photo: Smiley N. Pool / Houston Chronicle

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Giants relief pitcher Guillermo Mota smiles as he warms up in the outfield . Mota was activated Tuesday following the end of his 100-game suspension.

Giants relief pitcher Guillermo Mota smiles as he warms up in the outfield . Mota was activated Tuesday following the end of his 100-game suspension.